Updated: 8.52pm
TEENAGER BETHANY FIRTH has won Ireland’s first gold medal at the London 2012 Paralympic Games at the Aquatics Centre.
Her time of 1:08.93 was an impressive 1.4 seconds faster than her qualifying time in this morning’s heats.
The 16-year-old secured a gold medal in the Women’s 100m Backstroke Final this evening.
Earlier today, she had finished second fastest in her heat and fourth fastest overall.
Speaking following her success, Firth said: “The crowd were amazing, I could actually hear them under the water, they were carrying me along and pushing me along and making me go faster, I don’t think I could have done it without the crowds.”
She continued: “It’s amazing, I love it, words can’t describe how I feel right now! I thought I came 3rd and then I saw I was 1st, I was just over the moon.”
Her achievement represents further success, following the acquisition of a silver medal in the 200m freestyle at the European Championships in Berlin last year.
She also earned numerous accolades prior to her exploits in Berlin, including at the DSE National Junior Championships in Sheffield (seven gold medals), the Ulster Championships (two bronze medals) and the UK School Games (a gold and two silver medals).
Brilliant well done Bethany :)
Well Done!!!! :)
Great job Bethany
Well done
Was watching. She rocked it! Class!
Absolutely fantastic …well done..
Was a great race. Well done!
Well Done Bethany!! You make the county soooo proud!
Fantastic effort. The gold medal is richly deserved. Hope she gets as much support and praise as the rest of our olympic athletes!
Great news. Well done to her.
Brilliant bravo really well done Bethany and hope to be able to see your win somewhere on the net….any links? Would love to see the dressage, great result. Completely in awe of these arhletes. Get to see show-jumping for visually impaired and blind riders here in France on the telly, it’s fantastic. Not everyone’s idea of Sport I know but a real inspiration.
When we think we have problems, look at these people, these people have problems but my god are they inspiring. Well done Bethany
Fantastic…well, well done. Many congratulations to you and your team…Ireland has another reason to be very proud.
well done bethany and jason smyth for a fantastic race tonight
Fair play Bethany!
Fantastic Bethany, Ireland is so Proud of you :-)
A big congratulations to you Bethany. Well done ;)
well done Bethany a well deserved gold !!
a true sign of a champoion to knock a performance like that out in an Olympic final
they are all inspiration to ablebodied people. all these athlets should be so proud for themselves, family, well done.